By: Natasha Archary

The Senzo Meyiwa murder trial will resume in the Pretoria High Court on Monday, 17 July after yet another lengthy postponement.
With a new judge in place after former presiding judge, Tshifhiwa Maumela fell ill and was subsequently suspended by President Cyril Ramaphosa, the murder trial will resume on a clean slate.
Judge Maumela was replaced by retired judge, Ratha Mokgoatlheng, will scrap all previous witness testimonies and begin the trial de novo, which means to start from scratch.
So far, police officers Thabo Mosia and Patrick Mthethwa, as well as Senzo Meyiwa’s friends, Tumelo Madlala and Mthokozisi Thwala have all testified to events on the night the footballer was gunned down in Vosloorus.
Meyiwa’s girlfriend at the time, Kelly Khumalo had not been called to the witness stand before the trial was postponed, but her sister Zandie Khumalo had just begun her testimony a few days before Judge Maumela fell ill.
Zandie, who wrote a letter to Ramaphosa requesting that he expediate the trial to keep all parties closure after all these years, shared Meyiwa’s last moments with the court, breaking down when she recounted how he was rushed to hospital.
The former Bafana Bafana and Orlando Pirates footballer was shot and killed in an apparent botched home invasion on 26 October 2014 at Kelly’s family home.
A number of Kelly’s family members were inside the house when the five men standing trial for Meyiwa’s murder reportedly barged in demanding valuables and cash.
The men are Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Bongani Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube, Mthokoziseni Maphisa and Fisokuhle Nkani Ntuli.
All five men have pleaded not guilty to charges of premeditated murder, attempted murder, robbery with aggravated circumstances, possession of firearms without a license and possession of ammunition.
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